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Italian teen Matteo Manassero wins 2012 Barclays Singapore Open

Matteo Manassero of Italy tees off during third round of the Barclays Singapore Open Golf tournament at the Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore on Nov 10, 2012. Manassero won the 2012 Barclays Singapore Open after a thrilling sudden-death play-off. --PHOTO: AFP

By Sanjay Nair

ITALY'S Matteo Manassero won the 2012 Barclays Singapore Open after a thrilling sudden-death play-off.

The 19-year-old defeated 2010 British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen after his eagle putt on the third extra hole. He had split the first two additional holes with the South African, who had closed with a 67.

The duo were tied on 13-under 271 at the end of the fourth round.

Manassero, who finished on 69, had led by as many as three strokes at one stage. The youngster took home US$1 million (S$1.22 million) for his third title on the European Tour

Game on for Singapore developers

SINGAPORE - It used to be an industry parents frowned upon and few Singaporeans considered it to be as prestigious as being a doctor, lawyer or accountant.

But now, fuelled by the mobile revolution, the global gaming industry is projected to grow to US$70.1 billion (S$86 billion) in 2015, giving Singaporean game developers the perfect opportunity to finally prove their doubters wrong.

"In the early days there wasn't much guidance for people who wanted to enter the industry. There were challenges to overcome both in terms of the production and marketing for the games," said Mr Travis Ho, director of Touch Dimensions whose game Autumn Dynasty was the top iOS strategy game in 28 countries this year.

And Touch Dimensions' mobile wonder is not the only Singaporean-made game to taste global success.

Ratloop's RocketBirds: Hardboiled Chicken was the first Singapore-made 3D stereoscopic game to make its debut on the PlayStation Network, and the PC version of the game will be made available on the Steam platform - which boats 54 million users worldwide - next month for the price of US$9.99 (S$12.20).

Another local studio, LambdaMu's, saw their Dice Soccer game become the top dice game in 15 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Singapore. As a result of their success, they become one of the first local companies to sign a publishing deal worth US$100,000 (S$122,000) with 6waves, who have 30 million users playing their games every month.

"It was a big surprise for us. We really didn't expect it to hit the charts and the fact that we could create something that was liked all around the world was great positive reinforcement for us," said LambdaMu CEO Ivan Loo.

And help is also on hand for budding game developers who believe they have hit on their hands but lack the business acumen to make it a commercial success. The Games Solution Centre (GSC), an initiative by MDA and managed by Nanyang Polytechnic, was set up in September last year to transform developers' prototypes into money-making games.

They do so by offering rent-free spaces at their Ayer Rajah premise to promising talents who are also handed top-notch software and hardware to further develop their games. The centre has housed 18 tenants so far and nine have successfully graduated, while a further 60 companies have benefitted from networking events and training workshops.

The GSC also houses a Sony PlayStation production studio and this has allowed one brave developer to move away from the lucrative mobile game market and take on the big boys in the console world.

Red Hare's game Page Chronica - a unique hybrid between a word-puzzle and an action game - is the first Singaporean title that Sony Computer Entertainment Asia provided full developer support for and will be launched for the Playstation 3 in Singapore and Asia on Nov 21.

It took the 9-man team almost two years to complete the project, but game designer and art director Ho Qing Xiang is cautiously optimistic about their chances of hitting the jackpot.
"I hope we can sell a billion and become the next Angry Birds," the 28-year-old said. "But we must face the hard facts. The final result is unpredictable and timing or luck may work against us. But we do have the confidence to say that there is no other game like this in the market now, and we hope this uniqueness will help us be a success."

These companies may have made small steps in the vast and unpredictable world of video games with their work so far, but their efforts might just translate into a giant leap for Singapore's gaming industry. HIRANAND SUNNY

Early morning park users in Choa Chu Kang were greeted by an unusual sight on Tuesday.

Foam stretching more than 2km long was seen along the canal and park connectors from the junction of Upper Bukit Timah Road and Bukit Panjang Road all the way to Stagmont Ring.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) is investigating if the foam is linked to firefighting efforts on Monday night.

Fire broke out at a warehouse at 800 Upper Bukit Timah Road at about 8.53pm on Monday. The blaze engulfed three quarters of the single-storey warehouse, the size of a football field. It was stacked with wood, metal and food products to a height of up to 6m.

NUS president receives King's College's honorary degree

Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, the president of the National University of Singapore. (Photo: NUS)

SINGAPORE: Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, President of the National University of Singapore (NUS), has been awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine by King's College London.

Prof Tan is the first Singaporean to receive this honour from King's.

Prof Tan, a renal physician, is also Chairman of the Board of the National University Health System of Singapore and a member of the Board of Directors of the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

He served as the Director of Medical Services of the Singapore Ministry of Health from 2000 to 2004. During this period, he was responsible for leading the successful public health response to the 2003 SARS epidemic.
Prof Tan started his medical career in 1983 and became a Senior Consultant in the Division of Nephrology of the National University Hospital (NUH) of Singapore in 1997 and a Professor of Medicine at NUS in 1999.

He headed the NUS Department of Medicine before becoming Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Chairman of the NUH Medical Board.

He served as NUS Provost and Senior Deputy President before becoming President in 2008, and he played a key role in setting up the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School.

Prof Tan said: "I am honoured and humbled to be the first Singaporean to receive this recognition by King's College, alongside other outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions in their respective fields. NUS values our longstanding relationship with King's College."

He added: "Our fruitful partnership will provide an impetus for more collaborations between universities and institutions in Singapore and the United Kingdom. I am confident that our joint efforts would create transformative innovations in research and education that could benefit Asia, the United Kingdom and the rest of the world."

Mandatory death penalty no longer imposed for all murder cases

Updated 09:26 PM Nov 14, 2012

SINGAPORE - The mandatory death penalty will not be imposed for all murder cases , under amendments to the Penal Code which were passed in Parliament today. Where the killing is not intentional, the court will now be able to decide if the accused should be given the death sentence or life imprisonment. All existing cases, if eligible, will be considered for re-sentencing under the new law.

Opposition Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC Sylvia Lim asked if the mandatory death penalty should apply even when there was an intention to kill. As an example, she highlighted the difference between a hired contract killer and an accused who was unable to get over a serious, long-time betrayal of a marriage partner.

Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam responded: "But the fact is even in the latter situation, it is deliberate, cold-blooded, intentional killing. Because if it is not cold-blooded and intentional, if it is on the spur on moment, there is a defence, Ms Lim knows that - if there is provocation. There are other defences as well, self-defence, provocation." CHANNEL NEWSASIA

Mandatory death penalty remains key weapon in drug war: Shanmugam

The Straits Times

Published on Nov 14, 2012

This 2011 file photo shows the drug crystal, also known as 'Ice', seized by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) on Oct 27, 2011. The mandatory death penalty has had a strong deterrant effect on drug trafficking here, and should remain a key lynchpin in the Government's war against drugs, said Law Minister K. Shanmugam in Parliament on Wednesday. -- PHOTO: CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU

By Tham Yuen-c

THE mandatory death penalty has had a strong deterrant effect on drug trafficking here, and should remain a key lynchpin in the Government's war against drugs, said Law Minister K. Shanmugam in Parliament on Wednesday.

Despite Singapore's connectivity and attractiveness for drug traffickers, the drug menace has been fought "reasonably successfully", he said, as drug traffickers fear hanging.

That is why drug prices here have remained comparatively high although drugs sold here are less pure, he said. Drug kingpins have also avoided Singapore, and the number of abusers arrested here has dropped from the highs of the 1990s.

Removing the fear of hanging, he said, could reduce the deterrant effect.

SINGAPORE - From 2014, all primary and secondary schools will offer the new Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) syllabus.

Education Minister Heng Swee Keat, who said this during a visit to Yangzheng Primary School yesterday, said the new syllabus is linked to the life experience of students so that they can relate to it more readily.

Identity, relationships and choices - core concepts of the new syllabus - will be delivered through different activities like storytelling and discussions, such as a mini version of Our Singapore Conversation, where students discuss current issues.

The CCE lessons will be conducted in the Mother Tongue, but it will also be taught through interactions with the form teacher. Schools will also be able to customise lessons that reflect their school values.

One new component is Family Time, which has suggestions for activities that allow parents to bond with their children and support the CCE.

Mr Heng believes this component will complement the efforts from the schools. "It provides for better bonding as well as greater involvement of parents and the community, and this is a very important effort because I think schools alone cannot succeed without the support of the parents and the community," he said.

As for core values like responsibility and integrity, these would not just be taught through formal lessons.

Ms Elena Tan, a teacher at Yangzheng Primary School, said teachers will also try to seize on "teachable moments" during other lessons to explain these values.

"For example, in terms of Science, through these experiments, I can teach them values such as perseverance - where sometimes, you do not get the first try right all the time," she said.

Some teachers said the challenge is to get students to internalise these values and apply them to their daily lives. This could be done by frequently recognising and showing appreciation for the effort made by students who do the right thing, as that would then encourage them to continue to do more good, they said.

Singaporean elected to board of world lifesaving body

Updated 11:22 AM Nov 15, 2012

SINGAPORE - A Singaporean has been elected to the board of directors of the International Life Saving Federation (ILS), the world authority for drowning prevention, lifesaving and lifesaving sport for the first time.

Mr Richard Tan, who is the president of the Singapore Life Saving Society (SLSS), was elected as a director of the ILS board of directors at the general assembly of the ILS held in the second week of November this year in Adelaide. In 2008, Mr Tan became the first Singaporean to be appointed by the ILS to chair its education committee, the committee that establishes the global standards and best practices for professional lifeguards and aquatic rescuers.

Mr Tan said: "I am deeply honoured by the trust that the representatives from the other national federations have placed in me and will do my best in this very important role. I must say that this is really a recognition of the good work done by the Singapore Life Saving Society and its members in the prevention of drowning and promotion of lifesaving in Singapore over the years."

Mr Tan qualified to be a lifeguard as a schoolboy in 1975 and went on to qualify as a rescue diver and also as a trainer and examiner of lifeguards. He is the only current Singapore examiner to have obtained the diploma of the Royal Life Saving Society, its highest qualification. Mr Tan works as a lawyer and is also an adjunct associate professor at the National University of Singapore.

The Singapore Life Saving Society has examined and issued more than 200,000 lifesaving certificates in Singapore since its founding in 1967 and lifesavers trained by the society and its members have saved numerous lives. In 1978, it received the Singapore Youth Award and in 2002 it received the Commonwealth Youth Services Award.

ILS is an international non-profit association incorporated by royal decree in Belgium with more than 100 member organisations in the world. Others elected to the new board include a retired admiral from India, a professor from Bulgaria and the president of the United States Lifesaving Association.

Singapore Paralympics star Laurentia Tan banks $150,000

Equestrian rider Laurentia Tan has received $150,000 for bringing home one silver and one bronze medal from September's Paralympics Games in London. --ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM

By Sanjay Nair

Equestrian rider Laurentia Tan has received $150,000 for bringing home one silver and one bronze medal from September's Paralympics Games in London.

During a ceremony held at the Singapore Turf Club on Thursday evening, the 33-year-old was awarded her prize, which comes under the banner of the Athlete Achievement Award (AAA) programme. This is an incentive scheme that rewards disabled athletes who win medals at major Games.
The money was given out by the Tote Board and Singapore Pools.

Tan, who is Singapore's most decorated Paralympian, bettered her haul of two bronzes from the 2008 Beijing Games.

Olympians get Christmas hong bao

Table-tennis team are surprise omission from recipient list

by Low Lin Fhoong
04:46 AM Nov 16, 2012

SINGAPORE - Seven of the Republic's promising young talents received their Christmas presents early yesterday when they were given a total of S$144,000 from the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) Partner Athlete Programme to help athletes in their pursuit of sporting excellence.

Swimmers Joseph Schooling and Tao Li, canoeist Geraldine Lee, Lim Heem Wei (gymnastics), Jasmine Ser (shooting), Derek Wong (badminton) and sprinter Gary Yeo - who had all competed at the recent London Olympics - were presented their cheques yesterday at a tea party with sponsors Canon Singapore, Samsung Electronics and SingTel which was held at the Regent Hotel.

But the women's table tennis team of Feng Tianwei, Wang Yuegu and Li Jiawei were a surprise omission from the recipient list despite winning two bronze medals (team and singles), Singapore's only medals from the London Games.

According to the SNOC, the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) had declined its invitation to be included in the programme.

SNOC vice-president Ng Ser Miang - who is also vice-president of the International Olympic Committee - said: "We would like to work with NSAs (National Sports Associations) who believe in supporting their athletes. While some NSAs may think differently, at the end of the day it's the athletes who will suffer by not being supported by our sponsors.

STTA president Lee Bee Wah said the association is constantly on the lookout for sponsorship opportunities for the paddlers. "As an NSA which is reliant on support from sponsors, we will do whatever we can to ensure that our partnerships with sponsors are always a win-win for the STTA and our athletes," she said.

"We are proud that we have signed on quite a few major sponsors like Lee Foundation, Crocodile International, 100 Plus, Keppel Corporation, SembCorp Industries, Mitsubishi, QT Technology, Donic, and Asics over the last few years.

"We have also linked up sponsors like construction and property development company Koh Brothers Group with our top paddler Feng Tianwei.

"We will also announce a new partnership between Yu Mengyu and another new sponsor next week."

Started three years ago, the SNOC Partnership Programme had kicked off the project with Canon as its sole sponsor, before roping in Samsung and SingTel this year. As such, the grants disbursed for the programme have increased three-fold from S$44,000 in 2009 to this year's total of S$144,000.

SingTel will also provide the athletes with free one-year mobile, Internet and MIO TV plans, while Canon presented them with a Canon Powershot Camera each.

Although sponsorship publicity plans for the athletes have yet to be confirmed, it is likely that fans may soon be able to follow the athletes on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook.

Said Samsung senior manager (Public Relations) Esther Low: "We have not decided on details yet as it depends on the training schedules and availability of the athletes ... It would be good to get them involved ... to help us engage the community through social media."

Polar bear Sheba dies, age 35, at the Singapore Zoo

Published on Nov 15, 2012

Sheba with her cub, Inuka, when he was less than a year old. -- PHOTO: SINGAPORE ZOO

Polar bear Sheba died at the Singapore Zoo on Thursday.

A statement from Wildlife Reserves Singapore late Thursday night said the 35-year-old bear had been "under treatment since September for loss of strength in her hind limbs, but her condition deteriorated in past week".

"A close evaluation revealed her prognosis was poor, and the polar bear had to be euthanised on humanitarian grounds," it said, adding that it was extremely saddened by the passing.

Sheba arrived at the Singapore Zoo on April 14, 1978, from Cologne Zoo, Germany, when she was 14 months old. She was the first polar bear to successfully raise a cub in the tropics.

Singapore Zoo's polar bear Sheba dies

Updated 10:24 AM Nov 16, 2012

SINGAPORE - Sheba, the polar bear that has been a key attraction at the Singapore Zoo for over 30 years, has died.

Wildlife Reserves Singapore, the parent company of the zoo, said it is extremely saddened by the death of its beloved polar bear, adding that Sheba lived to a ripe old age of 35 years, far exceeding the normal life span of 25 years for polar bears that are not in the wild.

She was under treatment since September for loss of strength in her hind limbs, but her condition worsened in the past week, and she had to be put down after a close evaluation showed that her prognosis was poor.

Sheba arrived at the Singapore Zoo on April 14, 1978, from Cologne Zoo, Germany, when she was just 14 months old, and she was the first polar bear to have successfully raise a cub in the tropics.

Her son Inuka continues to be in the Singapore Zoo, and is now 21 years old. CHANNEL NEWSASIA

Optimising space a key focus for Singapore: PM

Published on Nov 16, 2012

Space in Singapore could be used more effectively, such as by building undergrounds or on floating structures. And land could be optimised by distributing residences and offices, cutting the need to commute. -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA

By Grace Chua

Space in Singapore could be used more effectively, such as by building undergrounds or on floating structures. And land could be optimised by distributing residences and offices, cutting the need to commute.

Working out how to do these two things effectively is the focus of Singapore's new National Innovation Challenge, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the official opening of the Create centre yesterday.
The centre at the National University of Singapore's University Town is home to high-level research collaborations between Singapore and various international institutions such as Cambridge University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

The new $135 million National Innovation Challenge is Singapore's second. The first, launched last year, was on energy resilience for sustainable growth.

United and cohesive ASEAN vital to all member states: PM Lee

PHNOM PENH - A united and cohesive ASEAN is of vital interest to every ASEAN member, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today.

Sharing his perspectives at the plenary session of the 21st ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, Mr Lee suggested several ways to achieve this.

First, ASEAN has to redouble its community building efforts. He supports the proposal to realise the ASEAN Community built on three pillars - political security, economic and socio-cultural cooperation - by Dec 31, 2015.

It is also imperative that member countries meet the target set, otherwise ASEAN's credibility will be affected and its people's hopes will be dented.

The second area is to implement the ASEAN Connectivity projects. Mr Lee said a more integrated ASEAN benefits its people, businesses and the wider region, and hence the grouping must implement projects in the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity.

He noted that most attractive projects have already been taken up and the grouping should identify new projects and scope remaining projects properly so they are economically viable.

The third is to expand cooperation with its external partners and in this regard, Mr Lee welcomes the launch of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations, which will involve nearly half the world's population and a third of the world's GDP.

Mr Lee called for the RCEP discussions to be open and inclusive so that future ASEAN FTA partners can participate in it when they are ready.

Welcoming the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, Mr Lee described it as a significant step forward as it demonstrated the regional will to promote human rights in ASEAN's own way but in conformity with international law.

Mr Lee also touched on the need to manage tensions in the South China Sea. He said overlapping claims are in the heart of the ASEAN region and that the group must play a constructive role in managing problem.

Mr Lee stressed that ASEAN should not take sides on the merits of the various claims, but it must state a position which is neutral, forward-looking, and in accordance with international law.

Therefore, he has urged that ASEAN should counsel all parties to continue to abide by the Declaration of Conduct, exercise maximum restraint, and refrain from provocative actions. CHANNEL NEWSASIA